Fulling mill



Get. 8, 15946. H. H. BELCHER FULLING MILL FiledOct. 14, 1945* 2 Sheets-She e't 1 1946. H. BELCHER 2,409,011

FULLING MILL Patented Oct. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Rodney Hunt Machine Company,

Orange,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 14, 1943, Serial No. 506,280

Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved fulling mill embodying novel features.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a novel fulling mill including a pneumatically pressure loaded clapper for the packing boxes whereby any desired degree of pressure may be conveniently and easily applied for the fulling operation; the provision of a pneumatically operated clutch for the main drive of the fulling rolls; and the provision of a pair of fulling rolls. the top roll being pneumatically pressure loaded for adjustment of pressure between the rolls and in which the top roll is mounted on a lever pivoted to the vertical arm of an L-shaped frame, the latter being mounted on a pedestal supported on the floor so that the Weight of the fulling mechanism is not carried on the frame of the machine, and wherein the vertical arm of the L-frame is provided with a stop which may be used to support the pivoted lever for the top roll in out-ofthe-way inoperative position uncovering the bottom roll and leaving the latter open for repairs.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a fulling mill having a pneumatically operated main clutch, a separate pneumatically pressure loaded top roll. and a separate pneumatically pressure loaded clapper for the packing box, this construction embodying three separate air cylinders, all of which are, however, controlled by a single valve located adjacent to the cylinder controlling the drive clutch so that when the mill is started up the drive clutch will engage just prior to the actuation of the top roll and packing box clapper cylinders so that the fulling rolls will start without undue pressure, and the stopping of the mill is virtually simultaneous as to the three cylinders.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a top fulling roll mounted on a lever which may be swung to an inoperative position uncovering the bottom roll and a packing box which extends to the front of the rolls and which is pivotally mounted so that it may be swung to an inoperative position completely uncovering the bottom roll for removal thereof; the provision of a novel chain drive for the fulling roll in which the driving run of the chain for the top roll, if extended, will pass directly through the pivot of the top roll lever so that there will be no tendency of the chain to exert pressure by pulling on the top roll toward the bottom roll.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a pair of throat plate guides for each packing box, said guides being pivotally mounted on vertical axes on the box and provided with swivel nuts in engagement with a right and left-hand screw-threaded rod for pivoting the throat plate guides to and from each other to adjust the sides of the front opening, thereby providing without expensive construction a tapering inlet to guide the cloth to the fulling rolls with minimum tension thereby contributing to faster lengthwise fulling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a fulling mill according to my invention with parts broken away and omitted for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of one side of the fulling mill with parts removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the front end of a packing box showing the throat guide; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 the reference character [0 indicates the floor line. A pit is provided for the reception of the bottom part of a channel iron framework, indicated generally at l2. This framework comprises vertical end members and horizontal front-to-rear members l4 which support the tub, not shown, but which members conform in general to those disclosed in th copending application Serial No. 453,364 filed August 3, 1942, the general purpose of this construction being to support the tub either from the framework or to have the tub rest on its own support in the pit, thus avoiding strain on the tub and allowing for lighter materials therein.

I provide a pedestal it which rests on the floor and on which the entire operating mechanism of the fulling mill is mounted separately from the tub and framework I2. For this purpose- I provide an L-shaped bracket having its horizontal arm [8 disposed on the pedestal and its vertical arm 20 rising therefrom. There are a plurality of pedestals and L-shaped brackets, but only one of each is shown as the others are of like construction. At the top of the vertical arm 20 I provide a pivot pin 22 for swingingly mounting a lever 24. Lever 24 rotatably supports the top roll 26 as by a bearing indicated at 28. At the free end of the horizontal arm Hi there is an air cylinder 30 pivotally mounted as at 32 and having a pivot connection with the free end of lever 24 as at 34-. It will be seen that by this construction I have provided a top roll and support therefor which is adjustable by air pressure to and from the bottom roll 36, the

latter being journalled in any desired way on the horizontal arm [8 of the bracket, as for instance, by a block 38. At the top of the vertical arm I provide a stop which may be used to support the top roll 26 when the pivot pin 34 is disconnected and the lever 24 swung around so that it may rest on the stop 40. This will clearly uncover the bottom roll 36 for inspection and repair.

A motor 42 drives a pulley 44, said pulley being journallecl in any suitable manner and driving a sprocket wheel 46 which in turn drives a chain 48 in the direction of the arrow shown with relation to the chain. A take-up idler 50 may be used, but in any case, it will be noted that chain 48 passes upwardly over a sprocket wheel 52 fixed to the top roll shaft, and then downwardly on an incline to drive a similar gear 54 secured to the bottom roll shaft. The operation of the parts is shown arranged so that the center line of the chain between the two rolls indicated at 56 passes directly through the center of the pivot 22, and therefore, the force of the chain will be in a direction through pivot 22 and cannot exert downward pressure on the upper roll, the nip pressure being dependent only on the air cylinder and top roll weight. Also by this construction I am enabled to use but a single drive, and therefore, I do away with the double drive of the conventional fulling mill, which results in unequal fulling in the different packing boxes in cases of different loads and in unwanted stress where one side drives at times to the exclusion of the other side and vice versa.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, I provide an air cylinder 58 which is operatively secured to a lever 60 mounted in a bracket 62 on the floor. Lever 50 is provided with a yoke 64 secured in a rotatable manner to a clutch part 68 keyed to the main driving shaft 69. The pulley 44 embodies the cooperating clutch part 10, the pulley 44 being loose on shaft 68. Air cylinder 58 is operable to engage clutch part and 19 so as to start rotation of the fulling roll by means of the chain drive above described.

I provide a packing box comprising an iron frame 12 having secured thereto wooden sides 14. Between the wooden sides I mount a clapper 16 which is pivoted at 18 to the iron frame. Clapper 18 is in the form of a bell-crank, and an air cylinder an is pivoted on the packing box frame and has its piston operatively secured to the bellcrank shown in the position of the clapper. By this means pressure on the clapper may be easily varied according to the judgement of the operator 5 of the machine.

The packing box is supported on a pivot 82 and swings on the frame of the machine from an operative position shown in Fig. l to a position wherein a stop 84 fixed with relation to the packing box abuts the rear end of the horizontal arm l8 of the L-shaped bracket as at 86.. The front end of th packing box extends forwardly of the roll and is supported on a cross frame member 88 secured to the upright 20. At this point the packing box may be secured as by a bolt 90. In order to remove the bottom roll it is merely necessary to remove the pin 34 and bolt 90, swing lever 24 around to rest on stop 40, and then swing up the packing box about its pivot 82, whereupon the bottom roll is completely clear and can be removed for repairs.

At th front end of the packing box I provide vertical rods 92 (see Figs. 3 and 4). On these rods there are mounted the throat guides 94,

each guide having a swivel nut 96 mounted thereon in any convenient manner. A right and left-hand threaded rod 98 engages the nut and by means of a hand wheel or other device, not shown, the rod 98 may be rotated to thereby swing the throat guides to and from each other to vary the size of the front opening.

The air pressure supply for the roll pressure and packing box system is preferably taken from the line supplying the clutch operating cylinder with a valve positioned to control all three cylinders at once. Hence when the clutch is released the pressure on the roll and packing box would be simultaneously released. However, when the valve is closed, the clutch would engage just prior to loading of the rolls and packing box and the drive starts up with no pressure on rolls and packing box. These pressures would come up very quickly thereafter however, so that the mill will reach operation very quickly. This system will ease the starting load but will not impair the eificiency of the machine.

The piping and valves for the cylinders is not illustrated as this merely involves a valve, a. line to the clutch cylinder, and a branched line to the other two cylinders, although each of the packing box and top roll cylinders will have a separate valve to control its individual pressure.

The present construction allows separate manufacture of the top cover, the tub, and. the mechanical parts, and facilitates assembly by avoiding the old method of building the mechanical parts, disassembling, and rebuilding on the tub.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1.. A fulling mill comprising a frame, a roll operatively fixed in the frame, a second roll movably mounted on the frame, a pneumatic device for moving the second roll selectively to or from the first named roll, a packing box, a clapper therefor, a pneumatic device for adjusting the clapper, a drive for the rolls, a clutch for said drive, pneumatic means for operating the clutch,

and a valve for said pneumatic means and devices effective to actuate the clutch operating device just prior to the other pneumatic devices whereby the rolls will start to rotate with little or no pressure on packing box or rolls when the mill is started.

2'. A fulling mill comprising a frame, rolls mounted on. the frame for rotation thereon, one roll being operatively fixed and th other roll being movable to and from said fixed roll, a pneumatic. device for moving said movable roll, a drive for the rolls, a clutch for the drive, pneumatic means for actuating the clutch, and a valve for controlling said pneumatic device and means, said valve. being effective to actuate the clutch actuating means just. prior to operation of the roll moving means whereby the rolls will start to rotate with little or no roll pressure when the. mill is started.

3. A fulling mill comprising a frame, a roll mounted in operatively fixed position in the frame, a second roll, a movable support for the second roll mounted on the frame ata fixed point, a chain drive for the rolls, the chain centerline driving the second roll lying on a. line passing through said point, whereby the pull of the chain cannot. affect the nip pressure of the rolls.

4, A fulling mill comprising a generally L- shaped frame, a roll mounted in the horizontal arm of the frame, a support pivoted to the vertical arm, a roll mounted on the support for swinging movement to and from the first named roll, a chain drive for the rolls, the centerline of the chain run driving the second named roll lying in a line passing through the pivot point of the support so that the pull of the chain cannot affect the ni pressure.

5. A fulling mill comprising a frame, a lower roll, an upper roll, a movable support for the upper roll for positioning the latter in out-ofthe-way position to expose the lower roll, a packing box movable on the frame at one side of the rolls and extending to the other side thereof, throat guides on the packing box extending between the rolls, said upper roll freeing the packing box when said out-of-the-way position whereby the packing box is movable to a position freeing the lower roll.

6. A fulling mill as recited in claim 5 including a detachable connection for the packing box at the front of the rolls.

7. In a fulling mill, a. fulling roll, a frame including transverse supports at the front and rear of the roll, a pivot on the rear support, a packing box swingingly mounted thereon, and a detachable connection at the front support for securing the packing box in operative position, said packing box being swingable out of the way of the roll when said connection is detached.

8. A packing box as recited in claim '7 including a stop for limiting the movement of the packing box in inoperative position.

9. A fulling mill comprising a pair of fulling rolls, a packing box having spaced side walls, said packing box extending from the rear to the front of the rolls, a clapper mounted on the packing box to the rear of the rolls and throat guides mounted on the packing box walls at the front of the rolls, a vertical rod on each packing box wall, a throat guide swingably mounted on each rod for adjustment to and from each other in a horizontal direction, a swivel nut on each throat guide, and a right and left hand threaded rod engaging the nuts.

10. A packing box, a fluid pressure device mounted on the packing box, a clapper pivoted on the box and depending thereto, said fluid pressure devic being connected directly to the clapper for swinging the same within the packing box, said packing box, clapper, and fluid pressure device forming a single unit.

11. A fulling mill comprising a frame, a lower roll journalled therein, an upper roll swingably mounted on the frame, a packing box movably mounted on the frame, throat guides on the packing box and extending into position between the rolls, said upper roll being swingable to a position freeing the throat guides and thereby permitting movement of the packing box.

12. A fulling mill including a frame, fulling rolls, a packing box, a pivot support on the frame at the rear of the rolls, said packing box extending to the front of the rolls, said packing box being mounted for swinging movement on the pivot support to a position at the rear of the rolls.

13. In a fulling mill, a packing box, a fluid pressure devic mounted on the packing box, a clapper pivoted on the packing box and depending thereinto, said fluid pressure device being connected to the clapper for swinging the latter in the packing box, and a pivot between the packing box and the packing box, clapper, and fluid pressure device are all swingable as a unit on the fulling mill.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 including a separable cover for the fulling mill, said cover completely covering the packing box, the clapper, and the fluid pressure device, whereby the packing box, clapper, and fluid pressure device are located wholly within the cover, the latter being removable without disturbing the packing box mechanism.

15. In a fulling mill, a frame, an enclosure for the mill, a unitary packing box mounted on the frame and completely within the enclosure, a removable top for the enclosure, said packing box including a fulling clapper, a fluid pressure device pivoted on the packing box, said fluid pressure device being directly connected to the clapper for moving the same in the packing box, said top being removable to expose the packing box without disturbing the same.

HAROLD H. BELCHER.

fulling mill whereby the 

